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joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet
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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam
The so-called "419" scam is a type of fraud dominated by criminals from Nigeria and other countries in Africa. Victims of the scam are promised a large amount of money, such as a lottery prize, inheritance, money sitting in some bank account, etc.
Victims never receive this non-existent fortune but are tricked into sending their money to the criminals, who remain anonymous. They hide their real identity and location by using fake names and fake postal addresses as well as communicating via anonymous free email accounts and mobile phones.
Keep in mind that scammers DO NOT use their real names when defrauding people.
The criminals either abuse names of real people or companies or invent names or addresses.
Any real people or companies mentioned below have NO CONNECTION to the scammers!
Read more about such scams here or in our 419 FAQ. Use the Scam-O-Matic to verify suspect emails.
Click here to report a problem with this page.
Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:
- An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
- This email uses a separate reply address that is different from the sender address. Spammers use this to get replies even when the original spam sending accounts have been shut down. Also, sometimes the sender addresses are legitimate looking but fake and only the reply address is actually an email account controlled by the scammers.
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "hundred thousand great british pounds" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
- "await your urgent response" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
- ptrwood15@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Peter Wood" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <ptrwood15@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 4 Dec 2009 20:02:38 +0100
Subject: A Swift Feedback Required "Unclaimed Fund"
Dear Friend
I write to solicit your assistance in the execution of a transaction of
mutual benefit.
I work for a prime bank in London UK as an independent auditor, during
my last auditing activities I realized an unclaimed Bank Draft of
800,000:00GBP (Eight Hundred Thousand Great British Pounds).
Further investigation on my part led to the fact that these funds
actually belong to nobody as it was originally prepared in error as an
over draft payment for a contract executed since 1990, since that time
these funds has been unclaimed.
With my influence I am very confident that I can present you as the
suppose beneficiary to these funds, which would be transferred to you
for the benefit of the two of us.
Should you be willing to assist me in this transaction, shall be shared
50/50 between the two of us at the completion of this transaction.
I await your urgent response, contact email: ptrwood15@gmail.com
Regards
Peter Wood.
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Anti-fraud resources:
